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We already knew that Gareth Southgate is an England manager not afraid to be bold. Now we know he is a gambler. For all the talk of England needing to play football without fear they have put themselves under immediate pressure by making wholesale changes and losing their final Group G fixture to finish runners-up to Belgium.

OK, England have dropped into the apparently easier half of the draw and this may all turn out to be for the best but they first face Colombia, and their 30,000-strong feverish fans who will make Moscow feel like Bogota, in the last-16.

If England lose that then much of the sense of progress from the tournament will wash away and they would return home having only beaten Tunisia and Panama and yet again failing to claim a big scalp.

That is the worst case scenario. On the flip side they are only games against Colombia and either Switzerland or Sweden away from reaching a World Cup semi-final and that is a tantalising prospect.

You can tie yourself in knots on permutations but it was Belgium coach Roberto Martinez who summed it up. “We have to focus on Japan,” he said of his side’s next opponents. “England will focus on Colombia and if you look further than that you are risking a lot.” England have taken that risk, whatever arguments Southgate puts forward on the need to rest and rotate.

More immediately there was no disguising the fact it was a flat performance from England who still need something more sustaining. If the intent from the shadow team, with eight changes having been made, while Belgium went one further with nine, was to give Southgate food for thought, then he will go hungry.

Hopefully, Southgate’s master plan will pay off while he could argue that the whole world appeared to be telling him that it was smarter to finish second and it would show the kind of streetwise approach that is so often lacking. Except that was not the strategy at this World Cup where England were all about winning hearts and minds and attacking the tournament. There is a sense of momentum being checked.

United we potter about: Marouane Fellaini, Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones played out a strange, tension-free gameCredit:
Getty

For England it was only goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, John Stones – who was replaced by Harry Maguire at half-time as planned – and Ruben Loftus-Cheek who played against Panama which meant Southgate had named a different starting team for the 21st consecutive time and, by the final whistle, had used all 20 outfield players at this World Cup.

Eric Dier was captain and the midfielder was one of several who struggled but, again, this forgettable match, the first time England lost to Belgium since 1936, will be forgotten if England beat Colombia.

Having gone into this tie level in every way, England were top of the group on fair play, having collected fewer cautions and that metric was weighted even more heavily in their favour as Belgium were handed two more yellow cards in the first-half for tackles on Danny Rose. Those cards were cheered by their fans and it looked like the Belgians were ensuring second-place by that means.

Has Danny Rose done enough to claim a place v Colombia?Credit:
AP

The oddness of it all was summed up by Michy Batshuayi who celebrated Adnan Januzaj’s winning goal by picking up the ball and trying to hammer it into the net. Instead, it cannoned back off the post and hit him in the face. Some will say it was even odder given it was Januzaj, a Sunderland flop re-building his career in Spain, who scored.

It was a strange atmosphere. The fans, mainly the Russians, jeered first Belgium, and then England, as they kept the ball without purpose. Added to that sense of surrealism was the sight of Marouane Fellaini playing in the Eden Hazard role, out on the left of the attack.

England left out some of their bigger players, such as Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson and Jesse Lingard (pictured here with Nick Pope)Credit:
Getty

Both sides were booed off at half-time and there was not one second added by the Slovenia referee Damir Skomina. Although Belgium were accused of not wanting to win it, they created the best chances even before they scored: Youri Tielemans sent in a dipping shot which was punched away by Pickford; Fellaini headed down with Stones inadvertently hooking the ball goalwards and Batshuayi managing to force an error by Pickford who allowed it to squirm away. Gary Cahill, though, was there to hook the ball off the goal-line.

As for England? There was a Vardy header wide, a Loftus-Cheek header wide and a Cahill header wide which, as that would suggest, meant they were even more dependent on crosses and set-pieces. In fact, they were very poor at times, lacking creativity and morphing into a long-ball team.

Not to be: Marcus Rashford had a great chance one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois Credit:
Getty

Vardy stole away possession early in the second-half and finally there was a chance for Marcus Rashford only for him to bend his shot far wide.

Moments later and Januzaj – the Manchester United wonderkid before Rashford – bamboozled Danny Rose and curled a left-footed shot that had Pickford clawing the air. Martinez did not celebrate although his players and the fans did.

Rashford had his chance. He received a superb ball through from Vardy and was clear on goal – only for Thibaut Courtois to excel as he diverted the shot with his fingertips past the post. Even so, surely, Rashford had go on and score.

Jamie Vardy battled hard but had little to work with. Here he is being tackled by Moussa DembeleCredit:
Getty

Southgate went for it, bringing on Danny Welbeck and withdrawing Alexander-Arnold, one of the few to impress, which meant Rashford going to right wing-back. Welbeck went close, with a goal-bound shot intercepted by Fellaini. As England pushed they were almost caught on the counter with Pickford making a fine save to deny substitute Dries Mertens and Fellaini shooting into the side-netting. Belgium may not have wanted to win but their B team was better than England’s. Hopefully, England will not regret this. It would be such a shame to mess up this campaign but the dice have been rolled.

England lose.... but win?

I think that will do it for us. A curious sort of a game: England lost but arguably win themselves an easier route to the semis. Who knows. What is certain is that they face Colombia on Tuesday. Jason Burt's match report coming up. Night!

Roberto Martinez

We are going to go as far as the readiness of our players. We have many young players who are desperate to play. We are a stronger team now than we were before those 90 minutes.

You can say that if England really wanted to push they would have put on Harry Kane, but I saw a team who wanted it. You are at the World Cup, you want to do well for your nation. I saw a team that was trying.

This is the World Cup. You should not try to cut corners or look for an easy path. We are going to be ready.

Maybe on paper there are easy routes to the semi final... but only on paper.

Belgians seem happy enough

Bookies

One bookmaker has got in touch to say that England's odds for the World Cup have shortened slightly despite/because of that defeat: 15-2 in from 8-1, and I would say looking online that England are in fact 7-1 generally.

Gary Neville: "the reality check for England is that Belgium have several in their second string who would get in England's first team."

One other bonus for Gareth

Cannot see that he has got any selection headaches.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was a typical pick I'd say. Didn't do anything awful, although his set pieces were sketchy. Generally played okay but does not look at all like he will shift the first choice man, Trippier.

Says Trent: “I’m very disappointed. We wanted to win the game, and we didn’t."

Who was your man of the match?

Wayne Rooney watching this in Washington pub!

Another day to prepare

England have real chances against Colombia and either of Swiss/Swedes. I think this is probably the better option for England.

Belgium are better than England are at football. Traditionally at tournaments, England do well against inferior teams and then lose against the first superior side they play, so this has run to form.

Not sure Colombia or Swiss/Swedes are as good as Belgium. Think England start about 50-50 against Colombia if James fit, favourites if not. Switzerland are ranked more highly by Fifa but I think England can beat them. England would be favourite against Sweden.

Full time: England 0 Belgium 1

90 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

England clinging onto the ropes here. Here's Fellaini again, barreling through opponents like Big Sol against Argentina, or like Big Sol in the Playboy Club too I shouldn't wonder. He lets rip. Side netting.

89 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

Gorgeous skill from Batshuayi on the byline, cuts it back. Not gorgeous skill from Fellaini, the ball pinging off him. But there is more than one way to butter a waffle, and the big feller does what he does best: shoving and pushing and powering through bodies like a rampaging lock forward. Nearly bundles it in.

88 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

Mertens is in the action right away, crushes a shot at goal. It is at a saveable height, Pickford decides to punch it... right back into the danger area. Luckily Fellaini is the nearest Belgo and he cannot get his body in the right position to shoot. England somehow get it clear. Think Pickford will be a very relieved Washingtonian.

87 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

Broadway Danny Rose draws yet another foul. Takes a quick freekick and Courtois... what is he doing?!!... he's come for this but he's never getting there. Welbeck ghosts in at the near post and fires.... well wide.

75 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

Vowed to stay off Twitter during England games but this is dreadful. Belgium are almost embarrassed to be winning. England going through the motions but have looked very ordinary all game. Both countries will feel very silly if they lose their next match.

Alexander-Arnold has run his race. Danny Welbeck is coming on. If anyone can sort this out, it's... well, probably not Welbz, But we'll see! Doesn't really matter if he does or not, in fairness. Maybe a puncturing of expectation is what this England side needs?

Vowed to stay off Twitter during England games but this is dreadful. Belgium are almost embarrassed to be winning. England going through the motions but have looked very ordinary all game. Both countries will feel very silly if they lose their next match.

75 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

Another decent set piece. Trent AA sends it in, Harry M peels away at the back post, sends the looping header back across... but Big Courtois gathers that like a person reaching something off a shelf for their much shorter spouse. Patient, vaguely paternalistic.

69 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

69 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

Decent spell from England. Delph hits a bobbler from outside the box. Dendoncker gets in the way and that deflection could have gone anywhere.

The most England thing that could ever happen:

* Deliberately lose to Belgium to avoid Brazil in the quarters* Immediately lose to Colombia in the second round * Brazil get knocked out in the second round anyway* Belgium coast through and win tournament

66 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

65 mins: England 0 Belgium 1

Great chance for England. Nice play, their best moment of the match. Nice ball down the middle, lay off around the corner from Vardy, and Rashford has a chance to run at the defence. Opens up his body, curls it.... oooooh wide. Should have scored that. Oh no wait, Courtois got a little touch. It was going wide anyway, I think.

GOAL! England 0 Belgium 1 (Januzaj 51)

England are giving Tielemans far too much space on the edge of the area. He's got all the time in the world. He slips it to Januzaj who, also, is allowed the run of the place. He cuts inside. He curls a left foot shot. It's a beautiful strike. Goal Belgium!

35 mins: England 0 Belgium 0

Belgium's turn for a corner. Boyata I think it is who flicks a header on dangerously.

England hit on the break. Ball to Vardy is juuuust a bit too floaty though and the men from the low countries can reset.

Batshuayi aside (he clearly didn't get the memo), Belgium are so desperate not to win this that I almost want to see England boot the ball in their own net. And with Phil Jones on the pitch it could happen.

26 mins: England 0 Belgium 0

Batshuayi with a nice run, and a vital tackle from John Stones to get in the way as he pulls the trigger.

From the resulting corner, it is controlled by Fellaini and lashed at goal... and England clear it off the line again! Alexander-Arnold the man who can. It rebounds to Adnan Jan and he is harangued off the ball.

14 mins: England 0 Belgium 0

13 mins: England 0 Belgium 0

England's set piece taking is really impressive. Four or five runners here, causing havoc. Cahill nearly nods it in at the back post, but the ref reckons there was some pushing. I think England can score against anyone in the tournament if they get enough corners.

11 mins: England 0 Belgium 0

9 mins: England 0 Belgium 0

Panic stations! England make a mess of clearing a cross, Cahill swipes at thin air and for a second it looked like Batshuayi had bundled it over the line after Big Marouane nodded it on, bless him. England have to clear from their own line!

It's been a lively start at both ends, with @GaryJCahill clearing off the line and then going close with a header himself.

England first

Anthem time!

And it's Clive

"For England fans, a rare luxury, having to play a World Cup match without major stress. Relax and enjoy. Hopefully the players can do the same. Ask your mum and dad what it is usually like: it is not like this."

Here's a guide to the stadium

Kick off on the hour

Gareth Southgate

"We are a team, but we are also a collective behind that. We have some very good players and they are getting a chance to play at a World Cup. Also, we don't want injuries to build up, so it was a no brainer to make some changes."

"I have heard theories of plotting quarter finals, semi finals, routes... but I am not thinking about any of that. We want to win this game."

Fans

Breaking news

Gary Lineker

If I were a player, I’d want to win the match. I’d want to win the group. I’d want to win a bloody knockout game for once. And I’d want to play against Brazil in the quarter finals of The World Cup. That’s what it’s all about.

Nice feature about Gareth Southgate

Featuring Alan Smith. Not the Arsenal goal machine. Or the Leeds one who looked like Claire Goose. The one that managed Crystal Palace... and gave Gareth Southgate-Badger his debut. Vs Liverpool. He was booked!

Kane had told Southgate he wanted to play in Kaliningrad, but it appears England’s captain will start on the substitutes’ bench with Vardy being given a chance to shine.

Raheem Sterling has been rested, which means Marcus Rashford is most likely to start just behind Vardy.

Kyle Walker will not be risked against Belgium because he is on a yellow card, which means Phil Jones and Gary Cahill are likely to play either side of John Stones in the back three.

Fabian Delph is hoping to start before flying back to England for the birth of his child, Eric Dier will play and Danny Rose has come in at left wing-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold could be handed a place on the right.

Paul reckons that England now have

all the motivation they need

The dubious argument for England throwing the game against Belgium just went bang. To do so would mean playing Colombia next. Win the group and they play Japan (nobody knows whether Brazil will beat Mexico).

Hard lines for Senegal, this

Come on England! Or possibly Belgium!

What a strange and unusual match we have in prospect between England and Belgium, kicking off at 7pm UK time. Both sides are guaranteed to progress to the last-16, but the question is as to who will come top of the group, and hence who they will get to play. Jamie Johnson here argues that England should want to lose to Belgium, because second place would afford an easier path to the final. In some senses, it is hard to argue with that assessment.

England's hero manager Gareth Southgate has promised that his team are going for the W, and that seems entirely right, but he intends to do it without some of his big names.

Here is who England might play if they finish top... and if they don't,

If the match between England and Belgium were to end in a draw, then it would come down to "fair play", i.e. which team has picked up fewer yellow cards. As it stands, that would be England. The prospect of players deliberately kicking the living daylights out of each other in order to get yellows and thus finish below their opponent: well, it's the Corinthian ideal, isn't it?

England seem to be saying that they will be going for the win but, well, Mandy Rice-Davies applies. The Belgian manager Mr Martinez has said that he is more concerned with resting players. One such who will miss out is Sir Harry Kane, who has been given a night off. That nice Jamie Vardy gets a chance instead.